In all seriousness though, they're a top 6 forward away from a division title again. It's not like they aren't a talented team. They're aging, but I could easily see them finishing ahead of St. Louis next year.

In all seriousness though, they're a top 6 forward away from a division title again. It's not like they aren't a talented team. They're aging, but I could easily see them finishing ahead of St. Louis next year.

They are Zach Parise away from a possible title. If Lidstrom retires, the Blues are still definitely better and the Preds too if they don't lose all of what they acquired at the trade deadline.

In all seriousness though, they're a top 6 forward away from a division title again. It's not like they aren't a talented team. They're aging, but I could easily see them finishing ahead of St. Louis next year.

I don't know. The Blues have a damn good, well built young team. They should pretty much just be getting better for the next 4-5 years (unless they end up in a Hawks-like cap hell), whereas the Wings are supposed to be on the decline.

Though, even after their unbelievable year, I can't trust Halak and Elliott on a consistent, year-to-year basis.

I don't think the Wings are due for any decline. They'll be steady in the 4th through 6th range in the West where they're at now.

People continue to say they're too old, but they only have three players over the age of 33 right now, and at least one of them (Holmstrom) is about to retire. Nick Lidstrom's age is really irrelevant. He's a top 10-15 defenseman even at 42.

Guys like Helm, Abdelkader, Smith, Nyqvist, Ericsson, Quincey, Howard, Miller, Kindl are all young. Their prime players are all 28-33 years old, which leaves that group a big window to still win in.

I think Detroit is safe just because there aren't a whole lot of teams on the upswing in the West. Colorado seems like they could be, but the conference doesn't seem very static, as far as who's playing into April. Vancouver, St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville, and Los Angeles could all conceivably compete with them in the foreseeable future. San Jose will have an interesting offseason ahead of them but shouldn't be far off, either. Phoenix should do about as well as they are as long as Tippett is there. I could see Detroit being a low seed in the next couple years, especially without Lidstrom, but there are so many variables to be seen, and the atmosphere is just too good there for me to feel like they'll ever really fall off.

I don't know. The Blues have a damn good, well built young team. They should pretty much just be getting better for the next 4-5 years (unless they end up in a Hawks-like cap hell), whereas the Wings are supposed to be on the decline.

Though, even after their unbelievable year, I can't trust Halak and Elliott on a consistent, year-to-year basis.

I'm probably not giving the Blues enough credit, but it felt like they kinda overachieved this year. They got hot at the right time and rode it as long as they could and I kinda feel like they are the equivilent of the Lightning last year, a playoff team that will drop off next year. I don't think they'll miss the playoffs, they have a great young nucleus and I wouldn't at all be surprised if they won again, but I could easily see Detroit winning the division again next year. Part of this is probably the fact that Howard is a much better and consistant goalie than Halak and Elliott are.

I don't think the Wings are due for any decline. They'll be steady in the 4th through 6th range in the West where they're at now.

People continue to say they're too old, but they only have three players over the age of 33 right now, and at least one of them (Holmstrom) is about to retire. Nick Lidstrom's age is really irrelevant. He's a top 10-15 defenseman even at 42.

Guys like Helm, Abdelkader, Smith, Nyqvist, Ericsson, Quincey, Howard, Miller, Kindl are all young. Their prime players are all 28-33 years old, which leaves that group a big window to still win in.

The fact that two important players are about to retire is exactly why they're on the decline.

I'm probably not giving the Blues enough credit, but it felt like they kinda overachieved this year. They got hot at the right time and rode it as long as they could and I kinda feel like they are the equivilent of the Lightning last year, a playoff team that will drop off next year. I don't think they'll miss the playoffs, they have a great young nucleus and I wouldn't at all be surprised if they won again, but I could easily see Detroit winning the division again next year. Part of this is probably the fact that Howard is a much better and consistant goalie than Halak and Elliott are.

They were like the Lightning two years ago when they had a surprisingly good season. Now they're legit.

I'm probably not giving the Blues enough credit, but it felt like they kinda overachieved this year. They got hot at the right time and rode it as long as they could and I kinda feel like they are the equivilent of the Lightning last year, a playoff team that will drop off next year. I don't think they'll miss the playoffs, they have a great young nucleus and I wouldn't at all be surprised if they won again, but I could easily see Detroit winning the division again next year. Part of this is probably the fact that Howard is a much better and consistant goalie than Halak and Elliott are.

Hiring a masterful coach should not be mistaken for getting hot at the right time. That young core is only getting better, and they didn't even have Steen or McDonald (sooo underrated, but missing time is to be expected) for much of the year.

I don't disagree that Detroit could be back on top next year, even if I disagree with the goalie comparison. But there's plenty of reason to believe in the Blues' prolonged legitimacy.

I find it hard to believe that Lidstrom will actually retire, especially when he stills plays at an high level. Playing 20 years is amazing, but playing 70+ games in each season but one is really impressive.

I find it hard to believe that Lidstrom will actually retire, especially when he stills plays at an high level. Playing 20 years is amazing, but playing 70+ games in each season but one is really impressive.

It all makes logical sense, but Lidstrom has gone year-to-year on retirement seemingly forever. He has four sons and there has always been talk that he wanted to move them all back to Sweden (and I think he already has his oldest son back over there).